Using Overlays

Effective Overlay Use Modifying Overlays Moving Objects Between Overlays Frozen Overlays

Frozen overlays are visible but cannot be modified. You can use frozen overlays to "fix" certain features on a map that you are finished working on so you don't accidentally alter them. Or you can add features to an overlay and freeze it to provide background art or alignment guides. To freeze an overlay, click on the overlay's check box until it appears as a gray shaded checkmark.

Although frozen overlays are visible, you cannot select items in them. You may get frustrated trying to select objects that do not seem to want to be selected. If you attempt to select objects in a frozen overlay, AutoREALM will warn you that you are trying to select frozen objects. The frozen overlay in question is displayed so you can unfreeze that overlay if you are trying to modify something.

Frozen overlays do not interact with the editing process in any way except one. Points in a frozen overlay can still be snapped to with gravity snap. This allows you to make a template pattern, freeze it, and use the pattern to guide placement of objects in a different overlay. Gravity snap does not apply for objects in hidden overlays.